MetroWest Regional Transit Authority buys Framingham property

Thursday

Jan 5, 2017 at 8:41 PMJan 5, 2017 at 8:41 PM

Jim Haddadin Daily News Staff @JimHaddadin

FRAMINGHAM — After moving its headquarters to Blandin Avenue in 2015, the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority will expand its footprint downtown with the purchase of a neighboring property on East Street.

The authority’s advisory board voted last month to acquire the land and buildings at 22-24 East St., giving the agency more room to park its vehicles and an area to dump snow.

The property, which measures about half an acre, was previously occupied by a landscaping business. It also houses a residential building, which is now vacant.

While the building may ultimately be demolished, MWRTA Administrator Ed Carr said the agency is evaluating whether it’s in good enough shape to be converted into a day care facility, which could serve residents of the neighborhood and commuters.

"I'm excited about it,” Carr said of the $600,000 purchase, which is due to be finalized Friday. “I think it's going to help us this year, at least in the short term, with snow issues, and we're excited about maybe the potential of a day care over there. We think it would be great for the neighborhood.”

Launched in 2006, the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority serves 15 member communities, taking riders everywhere from the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough to Framingham State University and the Woodland MBTA station in Newton.

It was previously headquartered inside the former Meineke shop at 37 Waverly St., but began shifting its operations several years ago to 15 Blandin Ave.

The authority purchased the land from the South Middlesex Opportunity Council in June 2013, then broke ground on a project to renovate and modernize an existing 19,000-square-foot facility, which was previously an NStar truck depot.

MWRTA completed the multimillion dollar project and moved into its new operations and maintenance center in July 2015. However, work is still underway on one of the newest components: a filling station that will allow vehicles to fuel up with compressed natural gas.

Carr said the acquisition of 22-24 East St. will give the MWRTA more “wiggle room” to maneuver buses around the filling station, which is located beside the property.

Owned by Belleast LLC, a limited liability company registered to Framingham resident Frank Yurewicz, the land is comprised of three lots measuring about 0.6 acres. Property records indicate the house on the grounds holds 12 rooms spread between two units, including two bedrooms and bathrooms.

"It became available a little over a year ago,” Carr said of the property, explaining, “The people who own it came to us and said that they want to sell it."

Carr said most of the sheds and small structures on the property will be torn down, though the multi-family home will undergo an evaluation to determine if it's suitable for reuse. He said the MWRTA would seek a partner to run the day care center, if the idea is feasible.

"Some of my employees use day care,” he said, “and I'm sure there are transit people, riders, that want to have a convenient day care.”

The MWRTA will pay for the purchase using proceeds from the future sale of 37 Waverly St., which was appraised at a little more than $1 million. The property generated only one offer when it was put out to bid recently, though Carr said town officials are eyeing the land for use by the Department of Public Works.

Jim Haddadin can be reached at 617-863-7144 or jhaddadin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JimHaddadin.